Just Be Quiet!

Exodus 14:14 "The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent" 

Sometimes you have to know when its best to speak and when its best not to speak. My mother used to tell me growing up "think before you speak" and often times when you do that you're able to decipher what should or shouldn't be said in a given situation. Being silent also gives you the ability to listen and observe your surroundings getting a better understanding of how to speak when the time comes. More times than we realize it's not what we say, but how we say it that comes across as offensive, condescending, judgmental, and all other like terms. Most importantly silence is a signal to God. When we are silent we give God a chance to manifest within us to work on our behalf without us having to lift a finger or say a word unless He tells us to do so. This in turn allows you to exhibit the amount of faith you have in God. Faith is comprised of 3 characteristics; trust, belief, and resilience. From this we can forget all of the "logic" of the human mind to depend solely on the unfathomable abilities of our God. 

In most places where many people are gathered there is only one speaker and in order for that speaker to be heard everyone else must be silent. So in order for God to speak to you and through you, you must first be silent (muting your thoughts that are filled with doubt, apprehensiveness, confusion, and etc.) Silence puts you in communion with God and at peace with everything going on around you. There is a quote that I love which states "The loudest person in the room is often the weakest link" and another that says "All bark and no bite". Both quotes elude to the fact that it's not about what you say it's all about what you don't say thus making silence a great strength. It is in your silence that you can receive direction, it is in your silence that you can receive understanding, it is in your silence that you can be comforted, and it is in your silence that you can find peace. 

Start this month with the dedication to close your mouth and open your ears. James 1:19 tells us to be  quick to listen and slow to speak. Every action doesn't require a reaction and every thought doesn't have to be expressed. Slow down, be quiet, and allow God to speak and act on your behalf. Be faithful to your faith!